Target Shopping List 10/24 – 10/30/10

As you get started shopping at Target we’d recommend getting familiar with Target’s price matching policy and Target’s coupon policy. You may want to bring printouts of these with you to the store so that you have them in case you run into issues. If you are new to Pocket Your Dollars, learn how to read this shopping list or troubleshoot problems when printing coupons.

Remember that this is a starting list of deals for the week. As readers leave comments with bargains they found at their local store or we get emails with deal ideas, we will update this list. Items that are added throughout the week will be noted as NEW. Items whose final price changes as a result of a new or modified coupon scenario will be noted as UPDATED. At least once this week we will send out a reminder to come back and check this list for the hottest new deals.

Week-Long Deals

GE Reveal Light Bulbs 4 pk $2.00
Use $1.50/1 GE Light Bulb Reveal or CFL Target printable
(If you bought two you could use $1/2 from 10/3 Smart Source insert, but since Target’s policy limits you to one identical Target-issued coupon per transaction you will spend less per unit to buy one box and use the Target coupon all by itself)
Final price: $0.50 after coupon

Buy 2 select Schick Razors or Cartridges, Get $5 Target Gift Card

***Deal idea***
Buy 2 Schick Hydro 5 Razor for $7.49 each
Use two $4/1 from 10/3 Smart Source inserts
Spend $6.98, get $5 gift card back
Final price: $0.99 each after coupon and rebate**
**Per Kerry at Totally Target, if you only plan to buy these razors using these coupons, then you will need another $3.02 in merchandise (any kind of merchandise) in order for your coupons to ring through correctly

***Deal idea***
Buy 2 DiGiorno 12Ã¢â‚¬ ³ Pizzas for $4.50 each
Buy 1 California Pizza Kitchen for One Pizza for $2.89 (this pizza will be free at checkout no coupon required)
Use two $1/1 from9/12 Red Plum insert
Plus use $2/1 California Pizza Kitchen Pizza printable available after sharing a video or $1/1 from 9/26 Smart Source insert or $1/1 California Pizza Kitchen printable if your store allows you to use a coupon for an item you are getting free
Final price: As low as $1.67 each after coupons

Beneful Dog Food 15.5 lb $13.49
Buy 2 and use two $2/1 Purina Beneful from 10/10 Red Plum insert
Spend $22.98, get $5 gift card back
Final price: $8.99 each after coupons and gift card**
**Some folks have found Beneful on clearance so keep your eyes open for that at your store

On-Going Deals (Previously listed)

These items are listed from lowest final price to highest (and then my totally anal-retentive self ordered items that have the final price from lowest to highest starting price and then a third sort alphabetically. I say that only so you can tease me about my extreme love for patterns and ordered lists). Please leave a comment if a printable coupon is out of prints or the product is no longer at the specified price (maybe it was a temporary price cut?) and we will update the list to reflect that.

$0.05 Credit on Your Order for Each Reusable Grocery Bag
Bring your own bags into the store and receive a $0.05 credit for each one

Kellogg’s FiberPlus Cereal $2.79
Look for a box with a “Try Me Free” label
Spend $2.79, then send in for full mail-in rebate
Final price: Free after mail-in rebate

Johnson’s First Aid To Go Kits $0.97
Buy 3 and use $3/3 from 8/1 Smart Source insert (exp 11/30)
Final price: Three free after coupon

Thanks to Totally Target for a starting list of deals. Pocket Your Dollars is part of BeCentsable’s Grocery Gathering, a compilation of shopping lists for stores nationwide. If you want a shopping list for a store not covered by Pocket Your Dollars, then check out the Grocery Gathering.

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Comments

For the Baked Lays Chips, there was a Target online coupon last week for $1/1, plus in the Target coupon book I got in the mail yesterday tehre was a .50/1 Baked Lays exp 12/31/10.

There are some $1/2 Baked Lays/Sun chipsor Royal Gold Tear Pad coupons out there..think those exp in Nov. Found mine at Rainbow

I really want this game for my 4yr old for xmas…not sure if I should jump on it or if it will go cheaper Leapster Software The Penguins of Madagascar . We have tons of games 22+ so the sales TRU does that are B2G1 doesn't work out too well as we have most of them. Does $12 seem like a decent price?

Carrie-I notice that you mention Target's coupon policy about the one identical Target Coupon per transaction. It has always been like this, but my Target has always accepted more than one per transaction. Has there been some kind of crackdown, and that is why your mentioning this now?

JoAnna-I know! :) But there is one cashier there that seems to be a member of the coupon police squad at Apple Valley South, and she looks at EVERY coupon now, so I wasn't sure if it was just her or if others are noticing a crackdown on this.

Kim – It seems like the whole Target website is having issues right now so I don't think it is just the link (unless you got a specific error). I can't get to the coupon page on their site any way that I am trying right now.

I just got back from Target and had the worst experience…ever. I was able to do the buy 10 glade candles and get the two $5.00 GC's. However, I tried to do the Schick Hydro Razors buy two and get a $5.00 GC, with using 2-$4.00/1 coupons and it didn't work. It did not tell the cashier that she needed to give the GC to me. I also tried to use my 5.00/5 for kraft cheese today when I purchased 6 kraft for 2.00 each. I used 3-1.00/2 kraft items(target), .75/1(manuf) and they would not take my 5.00/5 manuf coupon. When I went to the CS desk they told me that you cannot use coupons when they are giving you a GC. Since when??? And they tried to tell me that the 5.00/5 coupon was on my receipt when it really wasn't.

Is anyone else having issues with Target? I am almost ready to give up on Target.

I have had great experiences with Target! I just went on Saturday and used a whole bunch of coupons and got the GC also! I go to the Target in North St Paul and they are great there. I was surprised that people have problems with coupons because I never have. But I did have problems printing coupons on Target's website yesterday.

Shannon….I don't know why they wouldn't take your $5/5 Kraft coupon and then give you that reason about not being able to use MQ's on a gift card deal – there is no gift card affiliated with the cheese that I could see. I've heard of others having that issue on other items but I've yet to have any problems at my local Target.

I used that deal today with the $5/5 MQ and 2 $1/2 TQs and it went through fine. I think 90% of my coupons beeped but the cashier "accepted" each and every one of them. I made a comment to her inquiring some sort of software upgrade but she didn't know anything :( (I read on TT's site this was becoming a common scenario.)

Has anyone opened up a Target Debit Card? Sounds like a cool deal, just wondering if I'm missing any drawbacks. It draws right from your existing checking account, just like writing a check and you save 5% off, plus maybe coupon books sent to you?!?!

I work in the privacy issues area so that's what I pay attention to…..and that arrangement trades a whole lot of privacy for 5%. One retailer knowing each and every purchase you make at their store. Not for me.

They can't program their coupons to recognize coupons correctly….no way are they having computer access to my bank account ;)

I found peelies on the Schick razors for a free razor when you buy a package of cartridges. If you get the Hydro3 razor and Hydro3 4-pk cartridges and use no other coupons other than the peelie you end up paying around $2.50 for both (after GC) which is 41cents a cartridge. My goal price is 50cents or less per cartridge. Nice deal if you don't have many of the $4 coupons.

I don't know if someone's already pointed this out or not, as I'm in a hurry, but the coupon for Alexia Frozen Products is also in the Nov. issue of All You. I'm defintely going to pick up some of the sweet potato fries…YUM!! Thanks for all the great tips…I'm going to Target now.

The Stouffer's coupon link (2.00) that is for the Party Sized is actually priced at 10.29 at Target not the $6.00 ones on sale. . You would still get the free Edy's but your out of pocket is much greater. Bummer!

When I first started hearing about people having trouble at Target I guess I had been very lucky that I had not had any myself by that point. Well, the trouble began shortly thereafter! It seems like it is endless now and I try very hard to just do the easy deals (like I do not try to use a coupon on the free item I am getting on a BOGO, since it always seems to make the register beep.) But I have also had coupons that show up as $0, coupons taken off the wrong item (but same manufacturer) and adjusted down because the other item was less than the coupon while the intended one was not, and money taken off of only one product in a off 2 scenario (Like the coupon was $1/2 and each item was $.75, so the register only took $.75 off). And it really depends on who you talk to in Customer Service as to how much of a hassle it is. Some believe me and just give me the correct amount back, some have to go to the register and get all my coupons out and match them all up, and I've had others try to find all sorts of excuses as to why it worked that way and why I'm wrong. While I give credit to the ones who truly deliver quality customer service, even that bother wastes my time. Once in a blue moon, no big deal. But there is something wrong every week now. They are losing my business, which usually includes plenty of purchases that aren't just the great deals. What has happened to them?

I went to get the mop & found that they had several $20 mops on sale for $16 with a $5 rebate to mail in on top of it. The one I got (O Cedar Pro Mist) comes with a scrubby cloth & a smooth cloth that are washable/reusable. I picked it over the Libman because I could tell for sure that it also has the push in/grabber holes so you can use any type of "swiffer" or cloth with it (I knit replacements) besides the velcro stick things. You also use your own cleaning solution. So to break it down: $4 off sale, $5 off rebate, TWO mop clothes that are reusable, uses any other type of cloth. I'm happy! :-)

I too am having trouble with Target! I was unable to do the Glade deal. I am always careful to get the exact product and use an unexpired coupon. The cashier was really nice and tried to be helpful but the Manager that came over to help her was rude – saying that they have "a million dollar computer system that makes sure no one is taking advantage of the system". I was very polite but it was a frustrating experience and made me feel reluctant to shop there for coupon items. I thought maybe it was just a bad day at the store but it sounds like this is a common experience lately. I am so thankful for coupons and the difference it has made in our family budget. The Manager said "if they keep on having issues they are going to have to crack down on coupons use". I really hope it doesn't come to that. Is there any advice out there on how to use the coupons in such a way that the Target software doesn't see our coupons as a threat? I appreciated the note about the need for a greater balance for the razor deal to work this week. Thank you!

SuperTarget Blaine – Mountain Dew on sale for $2.75 per 12-pk. Target website has a coupon for $1 off 2 – 12 pks of Mountain Dew or Diet Mountain Dew. That makes this cheaper than everyone this week at $2.25 per 12 pk or 18.75 cents per can.

The Vadnais Heights mgr. said they got a memo from corporate saying that the new software is having problems. They were told how to fix if the coupon comes in at $0.00. She showed the Trainee how and it went right though. She apologized and said, I hope this gets fixed soon. They were very friendly there and apologetic.

Do Targets vary from location to location? I write down all the great deals that would benefit my family, and then go to my Target (Lakeville), and find that about 75% of my items aren't even on sale! Anyone else experience this?

Yes, I have the same problem. My educated guess is that PYD gets their prices and deals from another blog "Totally Target". That woman is based in Florida and would not always have the same prices as we do here in MN. This is only a guess. I understand that PYD can't go into Target every week and check all of Target's unadvertised deals, that would be crazy.

I just don't think it is wise to put prices on the website for things at Target and Walmart. It is great to put the price on the website if it is an advertised sale. The prices are almost never what they say they are on this site. I do think it is possible that one Target may have this price. The problem is that this may only be one Target out of the 1000 plus stores.

Steve, I appreciate this website too! I now use the Target and Walmart lists as a store guide for products to check prices on when I'm in the store. I don't expect to find all these deals, I just feel lucky when I do!

Went to Target, was able to use my $2 off CA Pizza Kitchen coupon off my FREE pizza! Also, they let me use the $2 off Purina Beneful dog food coupon on regular Purina Dog Chow- which was $5 cheaper than the Beneful variety!

I have had the exact same thing happen…I have seen the cashier scan a coupon and then it doesn't show up on the reciept, the product amount isn't decreased by the amount of the coupon either, which I know can happen without a note about the coupon being taken off…I figured two weeks ago, they were off by about $3 which isn't much, but why use coupons if they aren't going to recognize them during check out? frustrating.

I found the ad in the 10/17 SmartSource–it says offer valid from Oct 17 to Dec 26–"Buy five Glade Holiday items and get a Free $5 Target GiftCard." It shows the sprays, candles, scented oil candles and plug-ins in the picture. So it is still going on.

I could have sworn I had seen a comment on this weeks Target list, but now cant seem to find it anywhere on the website! Any one able to help? It was referencing a $10 off coupon for Thomas playsets in a NOVEMBER DISNEY MAGAZINE. I came back to see what Disney magazine it was, and now cannot find where on the site I read this! I was just in the past week, and was saying how sets are sometimes as low as 29.99 making it a great deal etc. I have been to Walmart, Cub and Target and looked through all the Disney mags they have for the coupon, wanting to make sure its in there before I buy the mag and havent found it at any of the 3 stores! I aslo just got my Disney Family Fun mag in the mail today (nov issue) and isnt in that issue either..??? PLEASE HELP!

That is strange! Now, I bought the one in the yellow/gold bag. They had it in three different sizes; 11lbs, 4.5lbs, and I think 1 or 2 pound bag. They also had 3 or 4 varieties of the wet canned Chef-Michaels. I know there used to be a blue-bag dry variety. Maybe that's what is discontinued??

I have had issues with coupons since July and today was the last straw. I have talked to the Customer Service so many times I lost count! I gave them every Target coupon I had and told them that I would rather go somewhere that they actually don't make the customer feel they are in the wrong for using coupons (I always double check my list and coupons to verify that I am using them correctly and what not). Every cashier I have had is always rude and so is Customer Service. I am fine with not getting any overages applied to other products I am buying (even though the coupons and sale prices would make it look like I should be getting money), but when they say that coupons were deducted but actually weren't I draw the line…I am pretty sure that if there isn't a -4.00 on my receipt anywhere the coupon didn't actually go through! Sorry for ranting and raving.

Do you find Roseville to typically be priced a little higher than Minneapolis? I go to Roseville & Mpls Quarry – I have found that some of the food/household items are usually cheaper at the Quarry which is not a SuperTarget like Roseville is…

Couple things from a friend of mine who works at Target (both HQ & local and has for almost 10 years) – Yes the prices vary by Target. It has a lot to do with the demographics of the market, the competition nearby, and what it costs to operate the store – new & high tax areas costing more so they have a higher mark-up. If you buy something at one store & find it cheaper at another location, customer service can give you a refund for the difference if you take in your receipt. If they give you a hard time just calmly point out you can go buy it right now & return it using the righter receipt & get the same result (usually only the wet behind the ears associates will question it).

Second, if you are having issues with a store – COMPLAIN to headquarters 1.800.440.0680 (Guest Relations). Don't whine, cry or get angry (so do it after you've had a chance to cool off). Be concise & state just the facts of what happened & what they did/did not do to fix the problem. Don't be Minnesota "nice" (AKA passive) and just let it slide. Headquarters does NOT like to hear bad things about a store & they take it very very seriously – especially if you tell them that it has affected your decision to shop there rather than the Walmart across the street. They do realize that if there is one complaint – there are many who just leave. If they get enough complaints they send in secret shoppers (sometimes even the big wigs come through), and the store personnel can get blasted as a result (I've heard it can get ugly). You can also e-mail them off their website (go through Contact Us at the bottom) but I think talking is a better option because they get a better feel for how serious you are and can ask you specific questions. Names of the people involved help as well – especilly the manager – but with date & time from your receipt they can usually figure out who was on duty.

Do Target sales differ by store? I've had trouble the last few weeks not finding several thing listed as being on sale. This week it was the Simply Orange juice and the Lysol toilet cleaner. Any ideas?

I, too, have noticed that prices vary by location. The SuperTarget in Chaska seems to be a little higher, and price cut items are usually higher than mentioned on this site.

This last Monday night I saved approximately $35 in coupons at SuperTarget but almost every one (including Target's own coupons) beeped when scanned. It was kind of a pain and took a little longer. I asked the cashier why it was beeping all the time, and she stated that it's been "doing a lot more of that lately".

On another visit, I had to go to customer service regarding how something rang up, and the woman stated that they have to "be very careful" when reviewing one's receipts with coupons because they're getting a lot of heat from the higher ups. Obviously, something is going on with Target and their coupon policy and/or how they are processing coupons. We'll see if change is on the horizon.

They sure do! I have found that there can be differences in prices even between 2 Targets that are about a mile away from me. Once may have a price reduced, the other not. One may have some items on clearance, the other not. When I'm making my list I know that the sales in the flier will be there but that the others may not. If I'm too busy that week, I might just skip looking for the additional deals. Hope that helps.

I have been handing the clerks one coupon at a time so I can verify that the amount comes off. I know it slows them down. But after leaving the store 2 or 3 dollars short every trip, I don't really care.

I shop at the Chaska one too and have noticed it tends to be a little higher. I stop in the Burnsville (off 42) location occasionally since it's close to work and they are usually consistantly lower than the Chaska location. I haven't really compared to Chanhassen or Eden Prairie….I wonder if EP would be lower with WalMart accross the street?

Target is very at fault right now- they are making some nice profits off of their "software" glitches. Target is getting reimbursed the full value of manufactures coupons, but is consistently giving the consumer less than the face value of the coupon. I would make a complaint to Target, there is nothing wrong with using coupons!!!

I would have to agree with you on this as well. I sent Target Corp and email earlier this week with a very detailed listing of all their errors. I have all my receipts and I was able to give them more than enough information to look into it. I got a reply that they are looking into it…but I have yet to hear a final result. I suggest to everyone who is having issues to contact Target through their website. The more customers who are holding them accountable the more likely they are going to do something about this.

I shop at those two stores also, I wonder if The Quarry store is cheaper because it's near the St. Anthony Walmart. Just thought of that after reading all the comments. Today the Nabisco crackers were on price cut! Yay!

I shop the Fridley, Roseville and The Quarry Minneapolis Targets. A couple weeks ago I did see Finish Quantumatic starter kit for like $2.74 at The Quarry, but not anymore. They are randomly priced now. Even the clearance ones ranging around $4-$5 were sitting on the shelf with all the other dishwasher detergent (at The Quarry Target).

I personally will never use this stuff again! It is too sudsy and it cause my dishwasher to leak! My dishwasher is on the older side, circa 1996, but still! The regular Finish Quantum tabs do not cause a problem, just this automatic dispenser kind did – Finish Quantumatic.